Dear Spine Surgeons and Researchers,

The current issue (June 2019) presents new intellectual advances in spine research. First, it contains an invited article on the History of Spinal Neurosurgery in Japan. This article presents historical events and important surgeons from the beginning of spinal neurosurgery in Japan to the present day.
The current issue highlights cutting-edge debates in craniovertebral junction (CVJ) spine surgery. The first debate article involves a challenging new concept proposed by Prof. Atul Goel (Mumbai, India), who wrote an article entitled “A Review of a New Clinical Entity of ‘Central Atlantoaxial Instability’:Expanding Horizons of Craniovertebral Junction Surgery”. In order to present knowledge about evidence-based medical approaches to CVJ diseases, Neurospine invited the CVJ surgeon Dr. Sanjay Behari (Lucknow, India) to write an article.
His article (“Is Cervical Stabilization for All Cases of Chiari-I Malformation an Overkill? Evidence Speaks Louder Than Words!”) provides strategies for refining our knowledge and taking a logical approach to treatment design based on well-designed medical research. In order to provide expert opinions on these challenging issues, we also invited seven editorials from world-leading cervical spine surgeons who are members of the Neurospine editorial board (Seung-Jae Hyun P. Sarat Chandra, Justin S. Smith, K. Daniel Riew, Michael G. Fehlings, Dean Chou, and Mehmet Zileli).

Dr. P. Sarat Chandra (New Delhi, India) has contributed an article entitled “Basilar Invagination and Atlantoaxial Dislocation: Reduction, Deformity Correction and Realignment Using the DCER (Distraction, Compression, Extension, and Reduction) Technique With Customized Instrumentation and Implants”. This article provides an intriguing glimpse into the complexity of CVJ surgery and how to achieve favorable outcomes using principles based on the biomechanical properties of the CVJ.

The Neurospine editorial board would like to receive your feedback and comments about future directions. We pledge to engage in editorial work jointly with our readers.

Yoon Ha, MD, PhD
Editor in Chief, Neurospine

Shih-Huang Tai MD, PhD
Deputy Editor

Makoto Taniguchi MD, PhD
Deputy Editor